Age dependency breakdown in Zambia
Zambia: Age dependency breakdown was 3.38 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
3.38
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
234th
of 236 countries
All-time high
6.65
in 1980
All-time low
3.26
in 2017
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Age dependency breakdown in Zambia, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 3.38 for age dependency breakdown in 2023.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age dependency breakdown in Zambia peaked at 6.65 in 1980 and was at its lowest, 3.26, in 2017.
Zambia ranks 234th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Age dependency breakdown in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 5.28 | — |
| 1951 | 5.36 | +1.5% |
| 1952 | 5.43 | +1.3% |
| 1953 | 5.48 | +1.1% |
| 1954 | 5.52 | +0.7% |
| 1955 | 5.55 | +0.5% |
| 1956 | 5.56 | +0.2% |
| 1957 | 5.56 | -0.0% |
| 1958 | 5.55 | -0.1% |
| 1959 | 5.56 | +0.1% |
| 1960 | 5.58 | +0.4% |
| 1961 | 5.61 | +0.6% |
| 1962 | 5.66 | +0.8% |
| 1963 | 5.72 | +1.1% |
| 1964 | 5.78 | +1.0% |
| 1965 | 5.83 | +0.8% |
| 1966 | 5.87 | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 5.9 | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 5.94 | +0.6% |
| 1969 | 5.98 | +0.7% |
| 1970 | 6.05 | +1.2% |
| 1971 | 6.14 | +1.5% |
| 1972 | 6.23 | +1.4% |
| 1973 | 6.32 | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 6.39 | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 6.46 | +1.1% |
| 1976 | 6.52 | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 6.57 | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 6.61 | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 6.64 | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 6.65 | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 6.63 | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 6.57 | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 6.49 | -1.2% |
| 1984 | 6.42 | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 6.34 | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 6.25 | -1.4% |
| 1987 | 6.16 | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 6.08 | -1.3% |
| 1989 | 6 | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 5.91 | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 5.82 | -1.6% |
| 1992 | 5.72 | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 5.62 | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 5.52 | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 5.41 | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 5.3 | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 5.18 | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 5.04 | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 4.91 | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 4.76 | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 4.6 | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 4.46 | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 4.32 | -3.1% |
| 2004 | 4.19 | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 4.06 | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 3.93 | -3.1% |
| 2007 | 3.82 | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 3.71 | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 3.61 | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 3.53 | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 3.47 | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 3.41 | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 3.35 | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 3.3 | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 3.27 | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 3.26 | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 3.26 | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 3.27 | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 3.28 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 3.3 | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 3.3 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 3.33 | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 3.38 | +1.5% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 3.38 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.69, 51% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 3.38 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.66, 60% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5.48 | 5.28 | 5.56 | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.79 | 5.58 | 5.98 | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.39 | 6.05 | 6.64 | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.36 | 6 | 6.65 | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.44 | 4.91 | 5.91 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.15 | 3.61 | 4.76 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.34 | 3.26 | 3.53 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.33 | 3.3 | 3.38 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 231 Saudi Arabia 3.86 compare
- 232 Kuwait 3.76 compare
- 233 Oman 3.69 compare
- 235 United Arab Emirates 2.07 compare
- 236 Qatar 1.89 compare
More reference data data for Zambia
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.0386 (2026)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.0941 (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies -0.018 (2026)
- Country level monthly temperature anomalies 0.3261 (2026)
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Urban area long term, annual growth rate 3.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban area long term, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban area long term, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is age dependency breakdown in Zambia?
- Age dependency breakdown in Zambia was 3.38 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest age dependency breakdown recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.65 in 1980.
- What is the lowest age dependency breakdown recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.26 in 2017.
- How does Zambia rank for age dependency breakdown?
- Zambia ranks 234th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is age dependency breakdown rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Age dependency breakdown. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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